BY ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
WOW, BACOLOD City will have its Special Economic Zone (SEZ) soon. Such is courtesy of House Bill (HB) 1084 by Bacolod’s Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya.
HB 1084 is “An Act Establishing a Special Economic Zone and the Bacolod City EcoZone Authority.”
Per report, the said measure had already been approved by the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs on Monday, Jan. 10, 2022.
Senators Franklin Drilon and Imee Marcos led the deliberation and subsequent approval in the Senate.
Feeling “ecstatic” anew, the Bacolod solon enumerated the following “goodness” to be savored by Bacolodnons once HB 1084 will (ultimately) become a law. These include the following:
* generate employment
* boost local commercial scene
* promote competitive wages
* increase land and property valuation in the city
* motivate both local and foreign investors to invest in the city
* stimulate economic activities
* enhance export and comparative advantage opportunities, and
* give better chance and opportunity to skilled workers in the city
Too, the SEZ will complement Greg’s “Mother Bill” (House Bill 6731) that already became a law as Republic Act (RA) 11564 or An Act Establishing the Bacolod City General Hospital (BCGH ) which President Duterte inked last June 24, 20221.
Hence, construction of BCGH, per the Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Region 6, will start this first quarter of 2022. It’ll be erected in Barangay Vista Alegre. Land donation by the Gensoli family for this hospital had already been formalized with the City Government.
Aside from P250-M budget, the Senate will also have a counterpart for the procurement of equipment, among other state-of-the-art facilities.
Both House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco and Senate Migz Zubiri also promised additional funding for the said hospital.
Even Mayor Bing Leonardia, Greg’s former political ally, said, “It’s already a go!”
Thus, exclaimed Greg, “Finally, our dream of having our own hospital in Bacolod will be realized.”
‘GREAT OBSESSION’
Yes, with the unstoppable swelling of the population, Bacolod badly needs more hospitals – whether public or private.
Premium healthcare is really a must for Bacolodnons. BCGH, therefore, is one “great obsession” not just by Greg but by all Bacolodnons.
Another thing that will spell more credits on Greg’s name and image is his HB 2686 or “An Act Establishing the Bacolod-Negros Heart and Kidney Center.” Late last year, the bill was scheduled for second reading.
He also has this pending legislative piece – HB 00568 or “An Act Granting Scholarships to Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and their Children.” It has been referred to the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education for deliberation.
I noticed that both measures dwell on human compassion. There’s humaneness in them. So once approved, Cong. Greg’s ingrained political legacies in Bacolod are truly beyond approximation.
‘GOODNESS OVERLOAD’
But what’ll happen to these pending “noteworthy” bills if Greg won’t be lucky enough in the May elections? The sitting solon is currently facing four opponents. Among the four, businessman Dan Atayde is said to be the “strongest” at present.
Can he shatter Greg? Oh, wow! It’s “the million dollar question” in the “City of Smiles” right now.
“Actually, it’s a close fight!” commented my lawyer-friend-turned-political analyst.
But a pastor-friend of mine for over 15 years (who requested anonymity) likened Greg to a “tree planted by streams of water”, thus not easy to be uprooted from where he’s thriving right now.
It’s Biblical. Psalm 1:3, which says “That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.”
Could this be true?
“Could be!” answered the pastor.
Greg’s political life, he said, is an open book. “Everybody knows where he comes from and how he rose to power and fame.”
And to cut the story short, the pastor explained, everything that happened to Greg is somehow providential.
But what made him ‘unique’ among other political animals is that he uses his brains that bore ‘goodness overload’ for Bacolodnons.
The pastor capped his comment by citing Proverbs 4:18: “The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter ‘till the full light of the day.”
What a well-crafted opinion.
‘UNSELLABLE ASSET’
On the other hand, per observation, one of Greg’s “mighty weapons” in May is the so-called youth power (YP).
Having lots of young warriors projected to transform into “Batmen,” “Supermen,” “Spidermen” and “Wonderwomen” during elections is quite an advantage.
YP is considered a “valuable investment” in politics, especially at the height of digital era. If properly handled, it could also be an “unsellable asset” that can propel someone to victory.
I have read lots of articles about YP. And, perhaps, the best insight about YP is that of www.ndi.org’s “Speak Youth to Power” campaign.
Such emphasizes the need for young people to translate their power into sustained influence over political decision-making (today) if they are expected to demand and defend democracy in the future.
As we all know, youth of today are quick, restless, courageous, bold and daring. Hence, most of them, especially the well-tutored ones, can neither be lured nor duped by the traditional yet infamous “vote-selling” and vote-buying” schemes in an election.
The Department of Education (DepEd) already infiltrated them by “inculcating” in their minds the potent strategies on how to manage their “power to influence” for this year’s elections.
Data from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) revealed that the biggest chunk of voters in May elections is composed of the youth.
Comelec’s mouthpiece James Jimenez disclosed that of the more than 60 million registered voters for the 2022 elections, 31.41 millions are voters in the age group of 18-40 years old (classified as youth).
“That’s how significant the youth vote is in the coming elections,” he pointed out in his previous CNN Philippines interview.
So, if it’s true that Greg will be “utilizing” the majority of the Bacolod youth through the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) from the 61 barangays, he could be in the “right angle”.
Question: Can he sustain such angle amid lots of “bizarre” challenges?
Well, as expected, there could be “horrifying” instances along the way, especially in the remaining four months before the intense elections happen.
But Greg, I think, must have to ponder upon what the Bible is also saying in Ephesians 4:29 about youth handling: “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
Going beyond this Biblical phrase is, of course, “disastrous”./PN
